Fire extinguishing system and control apparatus



June 10, 1969 w, SCQFIELD ET AL 1 3,448,808

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1967Sheet /v of 2 FIG-I INVENTORS WALTER J. OLSON E WILLIAM SCOFIELD A ORNEYJune 10,1969 w. SCOFIELD ETAL 3,448,808-

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1967Sheet ,8 of 2 WALTER J. 0LSON L AM -0FIELD A a ORNEY United StatesPatent US, Cl. 169-2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fireextinguishing system wherein a'spring operated actuator for effectingrelease of fire extinguishing medium normally is restrained by a seriesof cable sections which are interconnected by fusible links.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishing, and moreparticularly to improved control apparatus for a restaurant kitchenrange hood and duct fire extinguishing system adapted to detect andextinguish a fire at a plurality of locations.

In systems of the foregoing described type, a single source supplies thefire extinguishing medium to all locations when a fire is detected. Ithas been proposed to detect a fire at each location by an arrangementwherein fusible link releasable cables extend individually from eachlocation to the discharge control mechanism of the source.

One of the disadvantages of such an arrangement is that a considerableamount of hardware is required. A second disadvantage is that eachcontrol cable must be tensioned separately.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide controlapparatus for a fire extinguishing system of the foregoing describe-dtype which is not subject to the prior difliculties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which requires a minimumamount of hardware which is readily arranged and installed.

A further object is to provide such apparatus which is reliable inoperation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of kitchen range hood and ductfire extinguishing system equipped with control apparatus in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a discharge controlvalve for the source of fire extinguishing medium, a control head forthe valve and an actuator for the control head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of an arrangement for anchoringone end of cable means.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings in detail, there is shown by wayof example a kitchen range R having a deep frying kettle K at each end,and a hood H extending over the range having a ventilating duct D ateach end. The system for protecting the foregoing arrangement generallycomprises piping P for distributing fire extinguishing medium, areceptacle S containing a source of fire extinguishing medium underpressure, a valve V (FIG. 2) for controlling the discharge of the mediumfrom the receptacle, a control head C for the valve, an actuator A foroperating the control head, and fusible link-cable means L forcontrolling the actuator.

The fire extinguishing medium distributing piping';P includes conduitmeans 10 connected to the outlet 11 of the valve V (FIG. 2), a nozzle 12in each duct D, a nozzle 14 facing each frying kettle K, and nozzles 15for directing the medium across grease filters within the hood (notshown).

The fusible link-cable means include cable sections 16, 17, 18 and 19and fusible links 20, 21, 22, 23. One end of the cable section 16 isheld in a fixed position by the fusible link 20 on a hook 13 in the zoneprotected by the nozzle 14 at the right (FIG. 3); the other end of thecable section 16 is connected to one end of the cable section 17 by thefusible link 21 in the zone protected by the nozzle 14 at the left; theother end of the cable section 17 is connected to one end of the cablesection 18 by the fusible link 22 in the zone protected by the nozzle 12at the left; the other end of the cable section 18 is connected to oneend of the cable section 19 by the fusible link 23; and the other end ofthe cable section is connected to the actuator A as shown in FIG. 2. Thecable sections are strung from the fixed end of the cable means, throughthe hazard zones and to the actuator by a system of pulleys 24.Preferably, the intermediate portions of the cable sections are shieldedby electrical conduit 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The source receptacle S, the valve V, the control head C and theactuator A are illustrated in detail in FIG. 2.

The source receptacle may contain carbon dioxide. In

such case, a pilot operated piston type valve as shown is connected tothe outlet of the receptacle, the control head is mounted on the valveand the upstream end of the piping P is connected to the valve outlet11.

Alternatively, the source receptacle may be a dry powder fireextinguishing medium. In such case, a smaller second receptacle having avalve under direct control of the control head is utilized. The secondreceptacle contains a gas under pressure and the outlet of its valve isconnected to the source receptacle so as to pressurize the medium and toexpel the same into the piping.

Both of thesearrangements are well known in the fire extinguishing artand need not be described in greater detail. Likewise, it is known inthe art to utilize appropriate nozzles 12 and 14 in each case.

The control head actuator and valve arrangement shown includes aslidable cam 27 which operates a pin 28 for unseating the pilot valve29; a spring 30 having a fixed end and a free end connected to the cablesection 19, the spring being extended to bias the cable sections whileinterconnected; and a cable section 31 having one end connected to thecam 27 and having its other end connected to the free end of the spring30 so that upon fusing of a link the spring is released and contracts topull the cable section 31 and the cam member to effect opening of thevalve.

The foregoing arrangement further includes a slidable handle 35 lockedby a pin 36 and contacting the cam so that when the pin 36 is removedthe handle can be pushed manually inwardly to operate the cam 27.

Manual remote operation of the cam can be effected by a cable section 37connected to the cam section 31 so that upon pulling the cable section37 by means of a handle 38 the cam is pulled across the pin 28 to effectopening of the valve.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved fire extinguishing system and controlapparatus.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and Without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Control apparatus comprising an actuator, a single continuous cablemeans, one end of said cable means being connected to said actuator forcontrol thereof, structure for holding the other end of said cable meansin fixed position including a fusible link, said cable means includingcable sections and fusible links connecting the adjacent ends of saidcable sections in series, said actuator including spring means forbiasing said cable means and effecting operation of said actuator uponfusing of one of said links, a control head, and a cable having one endconnected to said spring means and having the other end connected tosaid control head to effect opeartion thereof.

2. Control apparatus according to claim 1, including a second cablehaving one end connected to said firstmentioned cable and having meansat the other end thereof for effecting manual pulling thereof to operatesaid control head.

3. A fire extinguishing system for equipment having a plurality ofspaced fire hazard zones, said system comprising a receptacle forcontaining a source of fire extinguishing medium under pressure andhaving a discharge outlet, conduit means connected to said outlet forconducting the medium upon discharge to the fire hazard zones, means forefiecting discharge of the medium including a control head, an actuatorfor said control head including a spring, a cable having one endconnected for operating said control head and having its other endconnected to said actuator spring, cable means having one end connectedto said actuator spring and having the other end fixed, said cable meansincluding a series of cable sections, and fusible links for seriallyconnecting said cable sections with each link located in a fire hazardzone, said actuator spring being tensioned by said cable means so thatupon fusing of one of said links, said spring is released a'nd pullssaid control head cable to operate said control head.

4. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 3, wherein saidactuator includes manually operable means for effecting operation ofsaid control head.

5. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 4, including a secondcable having one end connected to said control head cable and having itsother end arranged for efiecting manual pulling thereof to operate saidcontrol head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 976,448 11/ 1910 Emmons.1,597,516 8/1926 Epps 169-5 2,057,702 10/ 193 6 Bel Knap.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL Y. MAR, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

